10 Favourite Moments of 2016

What a year!

I'm always surprised when we reach the end of another year. 

It's amazing how much we can pack into a mere 12 months! 

This week, I've spent some time browsing the many, many, many photos I took this year.

In no particular order, here are 10 of our favourite moments from 2016:

#1 - OUR 10TH ANNIVERSARY

We kicked off the year with a very special family milestone - our 10th wedding anniversary! It's amazing to think about all that has happened in the last decade. If you had told us 10 years ago that we'd now be touring the country with our own music ministry, we would have not-so-discreetly smirked behind your back. We're so thankful for every moment - the challenging and the triumphant. In February, we gathered with family to renew our vows and enjoy an intimate celebration in our new hometown. Just perfect...









#2 - CHANGING LIVES WITH WORLD VISION

2016 marked our first year partnering our ministry with World Vision. In our concerts, we shared the story of our own sponsored child, Keilyn, and it was amazing to see how you responded. There was the woman who found a little boy with the exact same birthday as her grandson, and the man who found a child from the country of his youth. There was the church who decided to share their blessings and sponsor 5 children! And finally, there was the woman who broke our hearts with her powerful story of infertility, but through World Vision, she could finally have the son she always wanted. Each story was unique and beautiful, but the most wonderful thing is knowing how many lives have been changed by your generosity.




#3 - OUR FIRST YEAR IN ST. CATHARINES

After moving 7 times in 9 years, we finally bought a house in our new hometown of St. Catharines! We quickly fell in love with our century home, and we've loved working on projects and seeing our landscape change through the seasons. We've spent countless hours exploring our neighbourhood, our city, and the glorious Niagara region. The most wonderful thing, however, is how much we've been embraced by the local churches. Through worship services, concerts, and the Good Friday Walk, we've truly had a chance to minister to our city.










#4 - EAST COAST TOUR

Touring the East Coast provinces has become one of our favourite parts of the year! This spring, we spent 2 months on the road singing in churches throughout Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and for the first time ever - PEI! And no trip to PEI would be complete without a visit to the beautiful Green Gables. One of the perks of traveling off season - this is one of the biggest tourist sites in Canada, and we practically had the whole place to ourselves!




#5 - TARA JACKSON VISIT

In the summer, we hosted a visit from our sweet friend, Tara Jackson! We explored the St. Catharines and Toronto areas, and yes, stocked up on Costco-sized maple syrup. Some of the most special times were sitting around the dining room table, with Gerald on guitar and the three of us singing in harmony. Hoping for more of this in 2017... hint, hint....





#6 - ADVENT CAFE

People sometimes question the idea of "God's timing", but I truly believe it was only through God's timing that we were able to join Advent Cafe this year! Advent Cafe is a weekly contemporary worship service in the coffee lounge of St. George's Anglican Church in St. Catharines. Utilizing a rotating roster of worship leaders, we've been blessed to lead worship once a month for this wonderful group. In the summer, we moved the service outside and worshipped right on the main street. I even had the chance to preach at one of these outdoor services. A new challenge, but I must have done alright because I've been asked to do it again in February!


#7 - THE FOOD

As we travel, one of our favourite things to discover is culinary delights we could never have at home. In the east, we indulged in fried clams, toutons, fish & brewis, and Jigg's dinner. Traveling west, we tried elk, bison, deer, and birch syrup. Closer to home, we explored the local market scene with fresh produce and homemade grape pie. In this photo, we're enjoying partridgeberry pancakes at the Treasure Box in beautiful Rocky Harbour, NL. So thankful for everyone who hosted us for a meal, and those who birth wonderful little restaurants with local creations.







#8 - ALL 10 PROVINCES!!


This fall, we headed west for our 2nd annual Prairies Road Trip concert tour. We sang in churches of all sizes and denominations throughout Northern Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. But at the end of October, we had the pleasure of arriving in British Columbia for our first concerts in that province. This marked the completion of a long held dream - to sing in all 10 provinces! I even blogged about it HERE, as a reminder to all of us to keep pursuing your dreams, no matter how long they may take to come true.




#9 - WORKING WITH OTHER ARTISTS

There are few things more special than working with other talented people. This year, we had the chance to make music with some of our very favourite and super talented friends, including a concert with Rhonda Louise, a song session with Sally Meadows, and an inspiring Gaither Homecoming night with our friend & mentor, Allison Speer. In this photo, we're participating in a vocal masterclass with acclaimed singer-songwriter, Mark Masri. A reminder to us all that "iron sharpens iron" ...


#10 - TRAVELING OUR BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY

If you haven't seen all of Canada yet, please plan a trip for next year! From the majesty of the Rockies to the wild scope of the Atlantic, we live in a pretty glorious country. The more we see, the more we want to see. The natural wonders are amazing, but the best thing is to get off the highway, explore the towns, meet the people, and hear their stories. We are so blessed to live in the "true North, strong and free."

We are so grateful for every moment this year - far too many to capture in one blogpost!

A sincere and generous THANK YOU to each and every person who joined our adventures this year.

For those who invited us into your homes and churches, and those who follow and support us online -

we truly couldn't do any of this without you!

We're looking forward to connecting with you all in 2017!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

BONUS MOMENT - STONEBRIDGE VIDEOS

Last year, we were blessed to become a Stonebridge Guitar artist. On a sunny day this fall, we visited Brickhouse Guitars in Kitchener to record some acoustic videos, featuring our beautiful Stonebridge. Since we're still celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas, here's the Christmas one...

And stay tuned for 2 more videos to come in 2017!

Tonight, Everywhere Is Bethlehem

Written & performed by Allison Lynn & Gerald Flemming

When a Dream Comes True...

"You gotta have a dream. If you don't have a dream, 

how you gonna have a dream come true?"

Rogers & Hammerstein, South Pacific

Many years ago, when I first started taking my singing seriously, I attended a church with two opera singers. Eva and Stephanie were mother and daughter - wonderful women with amazing voices. They became mentors to me, and I was so encouraged by them.

One day I was talking to Eva about her career, and she said to me, "You know, my music has taken me to every province in Canada."

"Wow," I thought, "I want that too."

So that day, I set it as a goal for myself:

Sing in every province in Canada.

Not just visit and sing in my hotel, but have an actual professional performance in every province.

Well, for many years, it seemed like I'd never get farther than Ontario. Many, many years...

But then, this unexpected thing called "Infinitely More" was born, and suddenly, we started to travel. And 'my' dream became 'our' dream...

We started touring the East Coast annually, and then last year, we made our first venture into the Prairies.

But this weekend, here in British Columbia, our dream came true:

Infinitely More has now sung in every province in Canada! 

I can't tell you how blessed we are to share our music in so many wonderful communities across our beautiful country. There's no better example of "the family of God" than showing up in a town you've never visited, starting a concert, and feeling like you're already home.

The world is a better place when we follow our dreams. I meet so many people who become discouraged because their dreams haven't come true. But you know, dreams are funny things. Sometimes things take a long time to happen, or their 'coming true' form might look differently than we imagined. Or they might morph and change and transform into something else altogether.

I encourage you to follow your dreams and to enjoy the journey. 

And when one finally does comes true: 

Enjoy the moment. Celebrate it. Give thanks. 

And then the next morning, find a new dream, and start all over again... 

Summer Concerts!

We love touring, but this summer, 

we're excited to have lots of close-to-home concerts!

Please come join us for a concert or worship service near you.

Full details at www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Calendar

Worship Wednesdays - FREE Song!

To celebrate the Easter season, we're giving away a FREE SONG:

There's A Light At The End Of The Tomb

Gerald was inspired to write this anthemic song by this photo he saw of a stone tomb, flooded with light. As soon as I heard his first verse and chorus, I declared, "I need to cowrite this!"  We loved crafting a song that celebrates the promise and power of that first Easter morning.

We debuted it on Easter Sunday,
and it quickly became a year-round favourite.

In that first year, I wrote a blogpost about the natural evolution of the song's vocals and arrangement. You can read that post here.

And we recorded a live performance for the tv show Artisans of Charlotte County during our musical residency in St. Andrews, New Brunswick:

But the final thrill came when we brought it into the studio. Denny Martin and his amazing band of Nashville musicians created a powerful soundtrack, and Carmon Barry of Toronto captured our vocals.

There's A Light At The End Of The Tomb was included on our 

ECMA and Covenant Award nominated CD, How The Light Gets In.

To get your free song, please visit our Store:

http://www.infinitelymore.ca/store 

We're offering this for a limited time, but we want to give away lots of downloads! 

Please feel free to share this link with your friends and family...

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters.

Bookmark this page and visit us every Wednesday!

Worship Wednesdays - We're Heading East!

We're so excited to plan our 6th annual East Coast Tour!

Mapping out the route...

Our tours to Canada's beautiful East Coast have become a very special tradition for us. Each year, we visit churches throughout Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. We sing concerts that help raise funds for local outreach projects. We lead worship for weekend conferences and Sunday mornings. We even work with bands and choirs to teach workshops on worship leading and songwriting.

St. Mary The Virgin Church, St. John's, NL

The relationships we make on these tours are amazing! There are some churches we visit year after year, building friendships and creating music with their bands and choirs. And on each tour, we visit new areas, ministering to churches for the first time. We love learning how each church works within their community. There are so many incredible outreach projects happening in towns across this country. These are stories that never make the news, and yet these volunteers are making a profound difference in their corner of the world. It's an honour to meet so many people who are bringing the Gospel to life - feeding the poor, caring for the outcast, loving their neighbour as themselves... 



These travels are also a time for great creativity. Many of the songs on Infinitely More and How The Light Gets In were either written on these tours, or inspired by stories shared with us after concerts or during our teaching.

We feel blessed to explore this amazing part of the country - making music, meeting people, learning about local history, and feasting on some of the best seafood ever!

Peggy's Cove, NS

This year, our tour will start after Easter and will keep us on the road 

throughout April, May, and into early June.

We're currently booking concerts, worship events, and music team workshops in 

Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland.

And for the first time ever, we're hoping to visit Prince Edward Island!

We'd love to bring our music to your community! 

Booking a fundraiser concert is easier than you may think. 

To reserve a date, or just to ask questions, please visit our Contact page and send us an email.

www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Contact

St. James' Drop In, Rosemere, QC

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters.

Bookmark this page and visit us every Wednesday!

Worship Wednesdays: Guest Post by Rev. Hollis Hiscock

Today, I'm welcoming a very special guest writer to the blog: Rev. Hollis Hiscock.

AKA: My Dad!

Dad was a full-time minister in the Anglican Church for over 40 years. In retirement, he took on the ministry of editor of the Niagara Anglican Newspaper.

Dad has always loved the Peanuts comics. Inspired by the 50th anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas, he wrote some thoughts about the Peanuts gang and their unique approach to theology.

I love this whole article, but the last line is something we should all take to heart...

 You can read the full issue HERE, 

including some powerful stories of churches bringing Syrian refugees to Canada.

Charlie Brown, Life and the Bible is on page 3.

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters.

Bookmark this page and visit us every Wednesday!

Big News: Infinitely More Joins The World Vision Artist Collective!

We're thrilled and humbled to announce that 

Infinitely More is the newest member of the 

World Vision Artist Collective!

Keilyn is one of the most important people in my

 life, and yet, we've never actually met in person...

A few years ago, as we approached November, my family started asking the inevitable, "What do you want for your birthday?" I really wasn't seeking another gift, but then it struck me: Every day, there are children in this world who can't get an education, medical care, a decent meal, or even a clean drink of water. I couldn't think about it without my heart breaking...

What I really wanted was to help a child.

So for my birthday, I asked my family to help me start sponsoring a child through World Vision.

I smiled when I saw Keilyn's photo, and her gentle face. She lived alone with her mother, who couldn't find employment. She wanted to learn a foreign language; her favourite chore was washing dishes.

Within months, we were exchanging letters and photos. It's wonderful to know that our support gives this sweet girl healthy food, clean water, medical care, and an education. But the letters are the best part. She tells me about her community and how they celebrate holidays. She lets me know about her favourite subjects in school, and how much she likes to dance. All her letters are handwritten with a typed translation. I can't read the original Spanish, but she draws flowers and animals around the edges. As a fellow doodler, this makes my heart sing.

One of the most powerful moments in our sponsorship occurred a few months in when I received a letter from her Momma. I really know didn't much about her. I knew she lived in a community so impoverished that a relief organization had to drill a well and provide a health clinic. I can't even imagine what it must be like to be a single mother under these circumstances. She let me know that they pray for us every night. This just broke my heart - we'd been praying for them every night as well. I realized that we weren't just sponsoring Keilyn; we were helping this young mother as well. I imagined our shared prayers for each other reaching God's ears at the same time. I marvelled more and more at how we are all interconnected when we live out God's love and grace.


Last year, Gerald and I started praying that God would find a way for us to partner with World Vision. Our prayers were answered by an amazing invitation. The Artist Collective is a diverse group of musicians, actors, athletes, and speakers who are using their talents to tell the stories of the marginalized and oppressed. Through concerts and other events, we hope to motivate the incredible compassion and generosity of folks across Canada.  We want to show them how rewarding it can be to reach out to families living in extreme poverty, and help save lives through child sponsorship.

We feel humbled and challenged that we've been asked to join this incredible group of servant hearts.

"How can I help?"

We would love for you to pray for this new phase of our ministry! We pray that we will continue to create engaging music, minister the Gospel, and act out God's unconditional love and compassion through this outreach.

If you feel called to personally sponsor a child, we would love to help you! Please contact us so we can connect you with a child in need.

We would also love to bring the World Vision message to your church! It's really very simple: when you host us for a concert or worship service, we ask for a few minutes to share our personal story of getting to know and sponsor Keilyn, and allow folks the chance to learn about other children who are still in desperate need of sponsorship.

We know this won't be a fit for every church or event, and that's okay. If you're not able to include World Vision in your event, you can still book us for a regular concert or worship service. Infinitely More will continue to make it as easy as possible for you to host our music and ministry.

Please feel free to contact us through 

our Website, Facebook, or Twitter 

to ask any questions, or to book us for a concert or worship service! 

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters.

Bookmark this page and visit us every Wednesday!

New Video! Psalm 8...

On last fall's Prairies Road Trip, we took a few days to visit gorgeous Lake Louise, Alberta. The day we toured the lake, the weather was overcast, yet the glorious colour of the water shone through the grey. The mountains and the surrounding woods were breathtaking. 

We were so overwhelmed by the beauty and majesty, we turned to Psalm 8. We recorded it for ourselves, but we loved this moment so much we decided we wanted to share it with you as well...

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters.

Bookmark this page and visit us every Wednesday!

Worship Wednesdays - Epiphany Thoughts...

Epiphany - the final day of the Christmas season!

It's the day we celebrate the arrival of the Three Wise Men, 

and the amazing gifts they brought the baby Jesus:

Gold, a gift for a king.

Frankincense, a gift for a priest.

Myrrh, a gift for one who is to die...

I've been thinking a lot about the Three Wise Men this year. Historians and theologians tell us that they were scholars, possible royalty. They traveled for years from a far off land to the east, probably with a large caravan. Their only guide: a star that they believed would bring them to the Messiah. In a world with no GPS and where travel could cost you your life, what an amazing undertaking.

I've often been taught that the Wise Men are important because they represent the universality of the newborn Saviour. Jesus wasn't just for a specific group of people - He came to save the world.

This year, I had a new thought about them:

Think about that first Christmas for a moment, and all the different people who witnessed the arrival of the baby Jesus. For most of them, the miracle took them by surprise. Sure, in a scholarly and religious sense, they'd been told to await the coming of the Messiah, but most of them didn't know it would happen that night in their own backyard. It was shocking, and overwhelming in its unexpectedness.

But the Wise Men were different.

They knew this was happening. They had been following the star. They had intention. As they got closer, the time and the location of the birth became ever clearer. When they met the baby for the first time, they were ready. They had gifts. They were prepared to worship. They had arrived at their destination, and they would never be the same again.

Are we the same? 

Are we actively seeking God in this world? 

Are we focused on finding the miraculous, 

despite the challenges and distractions that may come our way? 

Are we ready to worship when we finally meet Him face to face?

The Wise Men remind us that, no matter how far we need to travel, 

or how long it takes us to get there, there is alway room for us at the manger.

I pray that, as you make your goals and resolutions for 2016, you will choose to seek the newborn King.

Tonight, we'll celebrate Epiphany by leading worship at a brand new weekly service called Advent Cafe in St. Catharines, Ontario. You can find the full details HERE.

Happy Epiphany!

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters.

Bookmark this page and visit us every Wednesday!

Our Top 10 Moments of 2015!

"How was your year?"

It's the question we all ask each other in these final days of December. 

As 2015 comes to a close, Gerald and I have been reflecting on the last 12 months with great thanksgiving. 

I don't mind saying: it's been a really special year.

And now, in no particular order, here are our 

Top 10 Moments of 2015:

(I've put in lots of links to bring you to photos & the original stories)

#1. Our New House

Nine years ago, we sold our marital home to fund our dream of moving to Nashville. This summer, after years of renting and moving, a long held dream was fulfilled to buy a house again! Gerald spent hours digging through real estate listings til he found our beautiful century home in St. Catharines. We've only been in here a month, but to see our Christmas tree in the corner and our puppies on the couch, well, it's just about perfect...

#2. Our First EMCA Nomination

As a proud Newfoundlander, this was particularly special. Our latest CD - How The Light Gets In - was nominated for Gospel Recording of the Year at the 2015 East Coast Music Awards. We traveled to my hometown of St. John's to celebrate in all the festivities, including performing at the Gospel Showcase. As we say on the Rock, "Twas a time!"

#3. The 5th Annual East Coast Tour

Our tours of the East Coast become more special every year. This past spring, we spent 9 weeks travelling and singing throughout Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and eastern Ontario. We revisited favourite spots, and even had the chance to bring our music to new and wonderful places. Truly a blessing in so many ways!

#4. Stonebridge Artist Deal

In the spring, we started an epic hunt for a new guitar that led to an amazing conclusion: we were offered an Artist Deal from Stonebridge Guitars! We're so honoured to represent these amazing instruments, and love having this stunning guitar as our new 'band member.'

#5. Our First Prairies Road Trip

For the first time ever, we headed west! This fall, we traveled over 7200 KM over 6 weeks to sing in western Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Every single venue was new to us, and we felt welcomed wherever we went. As an added bonus, we had the chance to sing with several other Christian singer-songwriters, such as Ali Matthews, Natalie B, Rhonda, and Sally Meadows!  

#6. Covenant Award Nominations

To be recognized by the Gospel Music Association of Canada is to be recognized by our peers, so it was a double honour to receive not one, but two nominations for the 2015 Covenant Awards! How The Light Gets In was nominated for Folk Album of the Year, and Tonight, Everywhere Is Bethlehem was nominated for Seasonal Song of the Year. It was amazing to visit Edmonton for GMA Week, where we celebrated the vast and richly creative Canadian Christian music scene. 

#7. Ten Years of Yes

This July, I celebrated 10 years since I said "yes" to God's calling on my life. When I first experienced that powerful moment, neither Gerald nor I had any idea where it would lead, but we are so incredibly thankful that it has led to our Infinitely More adventure! 

#8. Most Denominations Ever

Infinitely More feels called to cross denominational lines, and encourage others to do the same. This has been an incredibly diverse year of ministry, singing concerts and leading worship in a wide range of churches, such as Anglican, United, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Church of God, Baptist, Christian Assembly, Christian Alliance, and many churches and ministries with no obvious denominational association. The more we do this, the more we recognize how much we have in common, and how we are all part of the family of God. 

#9. Great Health for Everyone

As I read the Facebook statuses of friends, and especially those who also have aging parents, I'm reminded how blessed we are to have such good health in our family. We faced a rough month in July. It started with an allergy attack for me, and continued as extended family, and even our sweet puppy Sebastian, faced challenges. But as we close out 2015, it feels like everyone is on the right path. Help is in place where needed, and we're all able to enjoy an active lifestyle. 

#10. A Surprise for 2016

In the last month, we've been offered and accepted a truly special opportunity. We'll be making a big announcement about it in the New Year, so we still want to keep it under wraps until we work out the details. But trust me, this will be a new level of ministry for Infinitely More, and we're truly excited it about it!

As we move into 2016, we feel so encouraged. Only two years ago, we took the leap from church staff to a full-time touring ministry. It's definitely had challenges, but this year in particular, we've really felt a wonderful sense of growth and momentum in our music and ministry. On a personal note, I also feel it's been a really special time for growing relationships, both in our family and in our friendships.

For each of us, I pray we can look back at 2015 with gratitude and peace. I pray we can leave any struggles and bad habits behind us, and move into the New Year with lessons learned, new optimism, the joy of discovery, and an openness to God's plan for our lives. 

Glory to God, whose power working in us can do 

Infinitely More than we can ask or imagine!

Happy New Year!!!

All the best in 2016...

The Blog Is Back!

We're back! After a hiatus during our Prairies Road Trip, we're back and blogging.

It's been an amazing season. Our first Prairies Road Trip was an incredible experience!

At the Covenant Awards!

We spent 6 weeks driving over 7200 KM across 4 provinces. We sang in churches, colleges, cafes, and living rooms. We made many new friends, and had the unique pleasure of meeting people we'd only ever known on social media. We attended the inspiring GMA Week and we celebrated our GMA Covenant Award nominations. The entire tour was rich in blessings, and we are so grateful to everyone who supported us in any way. We can't wait to head west again in 2016!

You can see photos on our SITE and FACEBOOK page.

We've also moved into our new home in St. Catharines! We've already sung at two churches in the area, and we're excited to explore our new city. It'll take a while to unpack during this busy month, so we're seriously debating wrapping the piles of boxes in mini-lights to make them look festive...

And now, it's our favourite season of the year: Christmas! 

As our gift to you, we've decided to offer FREE SHIPPING* for all CDs!

This applies to any and all CDs purchased up til Christmas Eve.

Please visit our Store to purchase CDs & Christmas cards, 

or to download albums and mp3s.

www.InfinitelyMore.ca/Store 

We have lots of great Christmas events lined up this month. 

Stay tuned for more news, photos, and Christmas stories...

It's good to be back! 

*Free shipping within Canada. CDs only. A small surcharge will be added for international orders.

Worship Wednesdays on Hiatus...

We're on our first, awesome Prairies Road Trip!

It's been a busy time on the road, so I'll be posting as I have time, and not on a weekly basis.

We're posting daily updates on Facebook and Twitter. 

Please Like & Follow to join in our Prairies adventure!

Worship Wednesdays - Concert This Weekend!

This Sunday, we'll have our final local performance until November!

Come join us at First Baptist Church, Ingersoll, for a great night of music. 

We'll even debut a brand new song!

All the details are HERE.

Next week, we leave for our Prairies Road Trip concert tour!

We're so excited for our first visit to the prairies provinces. We'll sing our way across Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. The first week of November, we'll connect with other Canadian Christian artists at GMA Week. We'll also celebrate our recent nominations at the Covenant Awards gala!

Please visit www.InfinitelyMore.ca for all the details...

Stayed tuned to this blog as we share this next adventure with you!

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters.

Bookmark this page and visit us every Wednesday!

BIG NEWS: Our Covenant Award Nominations!

We woke up yesterday morning to amazing news:

We've received 2 Covenant Award Nominations!!!

Each year, the Gospel Music Association (GMA) of Canada gives out the Covenant Awards to celebrate the best in Canadian Christian music. Yesterday, they released the list of nominees, and we found ourselves on the list not once, but twice!

Our latest CD - How The Light Gets In - is nominated for Folk Album of the Year!

Earlier this year, How The Light Gets In was also nominated for the East Coast Music Award (ECMA) for Gospel Recording of the Year.

You can hear samples HERE.

The title track of our Christmas album - Tonight, Everywhere Is Bethlehem - 

is nominated for Seasonal Song of the Year!

You can hear the song HERE.

I can't tell you how excited and honoured we are by this news. If you're familiar with Canadian Christian music, you'll see that we're nominated with some amazing talent. Steve Bell, Carolyn Arends, and Jacob Moon have decades-long careers and shelves of awards. Pretty rarified air...

We're also incredibly excited for all our friends and colleagues who have received nominations! It's so satisfying to watch a friend work hard to create beautiful, interesting, inspiring art, and then see it recognized by the industry in this way.

The full list of nominees is HERE.

We're so grateful to everyone who has and continues to join us on this musical and spiritual journey. Thank you to all the musicians and producers who helped us create these projects! And a huge Thank You to each of you who has supported our music by buying CDs, hosting concerts, or attending any of our live events. You keep us going...

Next month, we leave for our Prairies Road Trip concert tour. Throughout October, we'll sing our way through Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Please Contact us to book a concert on this tour! The first week of November, we'll be in Edmonton, AB, for GMA Week - GMA Canada's annual gathering. There will be workshops, showcases, and the big night - the Covenant Awards gala!

We invite you to join us on this adventure! 

We'll be posting regular updates on this blog, Twitter, and Facebook. 

Glory to God, whose power, working in us, can do 

Infinitely More than we can ask or imagine. 

Eph. 3:20

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters.

Bookmark this page and visit us every Wednesday!

Worship Wednesdays - Prairies Road Trip Update!

A few months ago, we told you about our upcoming adventure:

Our first Prairies Road Trip!

6 weeks. 4 provinces. 7200+ kilometres. 

Our Prairies Road Trip tour route!

It's been a big challenge putting this all together. This will be our first time singing in Western Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, or Alberta. If you imagine it in terms of sales, that means 4 provinces worth of cold calls!

It's also been an incredibly encouraging season! 

• We have lots of concerts confirmed, and many more awaiting confirmation.

• We're planning events with other talented artists, including many people who will be part of GMA Week.

• We have a special visit planned with the St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission in Bruno, Saskatchewan, including time with students and a community concert.

• The Saskatchewan Anglican newspaper even wrote this great article for their September issue! 

The Saskatchewan Anglican, September 2015

If you're in Western Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, or Alberta, 

we would love to sing for you this fall! 

We're booking concerts in churches, living rooms, and colleges. 

We're also teaching workshops on Songwriting and/or Worship Leading. 

Please Contact us for more info!

Thank you! 

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters.

Bookmark this page and visit us every Wednesday!

Worship Wednesdays - Side By Side Worship

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to sit in the congregation for a worship session.

As I slid into the seats, I could feel the energy of the people around me. Some were excited to be there. Others had probably been dragged by a well-meaning family member. Some were distracted as they sorted out purses and jackets. Others waited in anticipation.

The first song was How Great Thou Art. The people sang boisterously, and on the the chorus, you could hear faint harmony. I noticed a couple a few rows ahead of me. They were a little older, and seemed comfortable standing close, as you might after a lifetime together. As the last chords wrapped up the song, he leaned over and put his arm around her. It was an intentional action. He whispered something in her ear. She smiled and leaned her head to his shoulder. It was a brief, private moment in a large, public place. I wondered what had transpired. Had the song brought back a memory? Did she need a moment of comfort that only he could recognize?

The family in the row to the left of me started to sway. Four adults. You could tell they weren't singers by their faint lip syncing, but they loved the music. They changed rhythm with each song. They weren't dancers - just swayers. Every once in a while, one of them would close their eyes and lift a hand and belt out one or two lines of the chorus. The music and worship were in their bones.

Then, the Alto entered my row. At first, I only noticed her as a woman arriving late, fussing to make sure her elderly mother was comfortable in her seat. But once she was organized, her voice opened up and her presence was undeniable. A Soprano and Alto in the same row - here we go! I could feel my own voice lift as she added her rich, dark harmonies. As we sang together in our unscripted duet, I could feel the voices of those around us lifting in unison. As we hit the chorus of In Christ Alone, I heard bass and tenor notes drifting into the mix. It was glorious!

As we all sang and worshiped together, I was reminded of the importance of community. It's not just about having our attendance recorded and our offering collected. We are necessary to each other. You and your participation are a blessing to me. And, God-willing, I and my participation are a blessing to you.

Time and time again, Jesus demonstrated life in community. He told stories to large groups, ate meals at parties, and sang hymns with his friends. He knew that we needed each other in ways that are sometimes hard to define, but are palpable in experience.

As I see you offer yourself to God - perfectly, brokenly, honestly - it encourages me to do the same. I find courage in your strength. I feel compassion in your willingness to be weak. I see grace in our shared experience of coming together, marked by our failures and imperfections, and finding nothing but mercy and forgiveness waiting for us at the cross.

So this Sunday, let's stand together, side by side, and sing... 

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!

BIG NEWS: Our New House!

Gerald and I married on February 10, 2006.

Our first year of marriage, we sold everything we owned, tied the dogs to the roof of the car, 

and moved to Nashville!

We often tell this abbreviated story in our concerts, but most people don't realize that when we say 'everything', we actually mean - our house.

We literally sold our house, and almost everything in it, to move to Nashville.

It was a bold choice, but we had no doubts about the decision, and we have never regretted it.

Owning a home had been a long held dream of mine. When we sold our little townhouse, I told Gerald, "One day, I'll want to buy a house again."

Well, today, that dream has come true!

We are thrilled to announce that we have bought a new home! 

Our new home! 

Front porch, ready for a glass of sweet tea!

It's a beautiful century home built in 1913. It has the perfect mix of original character with fully updated wiring, plumbing, and appliances.

Front rooms with 10-foot ceilings, fire place, and original woodwork.

Original stained glass, in all my favourite colours!

The sellers had painted a forest in the nursery. This is my new creative space!

We even have pillars in the master bedroom!

Perfect size for a Newfoundland kitchen party! 

Why yes, that is a clawfoot tub...

Gerald scoured hundreds of listings searching for my perfect dream home. We spent the summer visiting open houses and touring homes. Because we're a freelance ministry, we're not locked into any location, so we actually looked at several different towns and cities. We finally settled on beautiful St. Catharines - The Garden City!

Can't wait to see our puppies running around here! 

Hydrangeas in the yard...

We're so excited to share this news with you! We wanted you to join in the celebrations, but I also wanted to share this thought with you:

Throughout this whole process, I've been reminded of God's faithfulness. These words keep running through my mind:

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, 

“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, 

plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

If you know our story, you'll know that we've faced some significant challenges in the days since we first sold that house. Perhaps you've also had to put aside a dream to pursue something else. But remember, God knows the desires of your heart.

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.

C.S. Lewis

The timing or the results might not be quite what you had in mind. Maybe the dream will look different in reality than in your imagination. Or perhaps as your life changes, you discover dreams you didn't even know you wanted.

On this day, I encourage you to pursue your dreams. 

Big dreams, small dreams, impossible dreams. 

They may come true. They may not. 

But in pursuing them, we make the world a better place. 

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!

Worship Wednesdays - 7 Essentials Bands Often Forget to Bring on Their First Tour

Sonicbids has fantastic articles for indie musicians. They offer inspiring, practical tips for booking tours, promoting your music, and surviving the industry. Last week, they posted an article that caught my eye: 7 Essentials Bands Often Forget to Bring on Their First Tour. Being a touring musician myself, I clicked the article. I'm such a fan of their advice, but this was pretty much useless. A skateboard? A solar-powered shower? Seriously? Since when are these things considered 'essential' to touring?

In response, I started writing my own list.

Here are my 

7 Essentials Bands Often Forget to Bring on Their First Tour:

#1. Contracts in Triplicate

We never leave for tour without well-organized contracts. I have copies online, copies on my computer, and a binder with printed copies. It gives me all the practical info about time, place, and contacts. The printed copies are handy to pull out when you arrive at the gig and there are disagreements about fees, etc.

#2. Non-Perscription Drugs

Obviously you need your prescriptions, but I also bring a stash of antihistamines, aspirins, and vitamins. I've been known to put a thermometer and cold medication in my bag during cold/flu season. To save space, I pack our pills in small baggies (one baggie for each pill type). Write the name, dose, and instructions for each pill on the baggie with a sharpie. You never know when a headache or sniffle will hit, and Murphy's Law tells you the closest Walmart will be an hour away.

#3. GPS - Online & Offline

We love the ease of using Google Maps on our iPhones. However, on our first few tours, we found ourselves in rural areas with no signal. Since then, we've added an offline GPS to our phones. They take up a bit of space as you need to download the maps to your phone, but they're worth it. If space is an issue, just add the ones you need before the tour and delete them after.

#4. Car Care

In the rush before the tour, your car can be overlooked, but on the tour itself, a healthy car is vital. Before leaving, get an oil change, ideally at a garage that includes an overall safety check. Make sure your CAA/AAA membership is up to date. And depending on season and area, consider purchasing new windshield wipers or snow tires.

#5. Change of Season Clothes

Before leaving for tour, check out the general weather reports for your tour area, and be aware of changing seasons. In our first tours, we packed for fall, but winter came early. We found ourselves shopping for winter coats and mittens. It was annoying to have to buy items we already had at home, not to mention the added time, and trying to find space for big coats in an already full car. Now, we pack a bag for our daily clothes, and store anything extra in vacuum-packed bags under the seats.

#6. Your Smart Phone

Okay, I know you're not going to forget your phone, but taking advantage of apps will save you a tonne of space when packing. In addition to being our phone, my iPhone is also my camera, video camera, alarm clock, tuner, metronome, voice recorder, GPS, and e-book reader. We use songwriting apps to turn hours of driving into creative time. My phone contains my vocal warm-up, my Bible, and my morning devotional. And one of the most valuable tools: my phone takes credit card payments! How, you ask? Read on...

#7. Square

If you sell CDs or any kind of product, you need Square! Perfect for the indie musician, Square is a free app that allows you to take credit card payments. I could write an entire blogpost about how much I love Square. It's easy to use with lots of free resources. They take a small percentage (which you can write off) and handle the full transaction for you. The money is literally deposited into your bank account, so you're not responsible for handling anyone's credit info. And you'll find a huge increase in sales. People without cash will be able to purchase CDs, but also, folks with only a $10 in their pocket will sometimes choose credit cards so they can make a larger purchase. Seriously, I could talk all day about Square...

BONUS: #8. Paper Towels

Poke a roll of paper towels and/or wet wipes in the back seat. At some point, a drink will spill or mud will get on the speaker or some other type of mess will happen. At that moment, you'll be so glad you thought to pack them!

So, these are my 8 essentials for your tour. It should go without saying, but remember extra cords, batteries, chargers, and any other small tech thing you might need. Have a backup of any midi programs, tracks, etc, on a hard drive.

Our motto: It's better to have it than wish we did!

Please feel free to add your suggestions in the Comments section.

Happy Touring!!!! 

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!

Worship Wednesdays - Where Does The Music Go?

When you arrive at our concert, you'll notice a long green table covered with our CDs. Our 'product table'. We believe strongly in the ministry of recorded music. Not only do you get to take our music home with you, but at the table, we also have the chance to meet people and exchange stories.

At the product table, after our recent concert at St. John's Ida.
Meeting with Darrin Gaudreau, director of Street Hope Peterborough. 

At the end of the night, we pack up, and move on to the next venue. As our travels continue, we often talk about the church, the event, the community, or someone special who really touched our hearts. But you know what we never used to think about? The CDs.

Yes, the CDs.

We would lay them on the table, sell them, and never think of them again.

That was, until this spring in Trinity, Newfoundland. Partway through the first half of the show, I introduced our original song, "Every Church Is A Small Town." I heard a woman gasp, "Oh, I love this song!" It caught my ear, but by then Gerald was playing the opening chords and singing the first verse. The chorus arrived and I added my harmony. But what was I hearing? Was there some kind of feedback, or echo? Why was I hearing other voices?

Because they were singing along! 

A number of audience members who had bought CDs on our last visit had listened to them so much they had learned to sing along on their favourite songs.

Gerald and I were humbled and thrilled. We'd heard stories over the years of people sharing their favourite songs, or letting us know how a particular CD had encouraged them during a rough time, but this was something different. It's already pretty awesome when you lead a group in a song you wrote, but when they start singing along uninvited, well, I just have no words for that.

After that moment, we started to become very aware of what was happening to our CDs when they leave our possession. We imagined people playing the discs in living rooms or loading the mp3s on their iPod. They might listen on their drive to work, or while making dinner. Maybe it's their exam soundtrack, or perhaps they choose a favourite song when they need some encouragement.

It was brought home to us again this past Sunday at a church in Toronto. A woman told us that she uses our CDs in an exercise class that she teaches! It's not a 'Christian exercise class', but the group loves the songs, so she includes them in her playlist. A use for our music we never imagined on our own!

I once heard Gloria Gaither speak about her and Bill's classic song, "Because He Lives." She talked about the third verse and its powerful message of passing from this world to the next. She said she chose that topic for the verse because she felt it was the strongest songwriting choice. A few years later, when struggling with the death of a family member, that was the verse that gave her the most comfort. She told us, "Write great songs, because you never know when you'll need them to minister to you."

I would also add, "Write great songs, because you never know where they'll end up."

Write great songs. 

Use amazing craft. 

Be intentional with your message. 

Make beautiful recordings. 

Then, send them out into the world.

You may never know where they land, but if you've created something meaningful, 

it may just change someone's life.

Worship Wednesdays is a weekly series to encourage and equip worship leaders and songwriters. Bookmark this page visit us every Wednesday!